Two recent research trials in Egypt involving U.S. sorghum demonstrated the potential of including U.S. sorghum in broiler rations.

The trials were conducted by the U.S. Grains Council using U.S. sorghum obtained through the Foreign Agricultural Service’s Quality Sample Program. U.S. sorghum is tannin free. Sorghum grown in Egypt and some other countries, however, is of the tannin variety, which means it does not work well in livestock and poultry feed.

Because of this, broiler producers in Egypt and the region are not familiar with feeding sorghum, making trials like the Council’s helpful for broiler producers, feed manufacturers and grain importers who are looking for new feed options.

As shown in the tables, broiler breeds performed very well on U.S. sorghum, with birds in the first study performing equal or better at a larger quantity of sorghum compared to the 100 percent other grain ration. In fact, birds fed 100 percent U.S. sorghum had better feed efficiency and a greater bodyweight.

1. Performance of Hubbard broilers given 0, 25, 50 and 100 percent U.S. tannin-free sorghum

% Sorghum    0 25 50 100
% Other Grain    100 75 50 0

Number of birds   18480 10890 8960 7520
Av. age at marketing (days)  45 43 44 44
Bodyweight at marketing (kg) 1.88 1.96 1.98 1.99
Feed conversion ratio   2.0 1.97 2.03 1.91

2. Performance of Ross broilers given 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent U.S. tannin free sorghum

% Sorghum    0 25 50 75 100
% Other Grain    100 75 50 25 0

Feed intake kg/bird   2.727 2.760 2.81 2.882 2.831
Bodyweight at marketing (kg) 1.565 1.608 1.608 1.604 1.562
Feed conversion ratio   1.86 1.85 1.80 1.76 2.06

Birds in the second study also performed well on sorghum, with the best figures coming at a 75 percent sorghum/25 percent other grain ration. Dr. Hussein Soliman, director of the Council’s Egypt office, said the trials demonstrate the effectiveness of U.S. non-tannin sorghum in broiler rations. It also means buyers in Egypt and the region can consider U.S. sorghum a good option.

Soliman said while U.S. sorghum may not be purchased in a quantity to fill an entire ship, it can be a component of an shipment that also includes U.S. corn, soybeans, corn gluten or distiller’s dried grains with solubles.